Going Home
Going Home
Discharge Planning
If you will need care after discharge, our team of case managers, social workers and geriatric
service professionals is available to provide coordinated referral services.
Case Managers
Our Case Managers can be reached at 908-859-6749.
They will help you and your family make arrangements for:
- Home health nursing; homemakers
- Respiratory home care; durable medical equipment
- Home physical, speech and/or occupational therapy
- Home intravenous (IV) medication administration
- Meals on Wheels
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Social Workers
Our Social Workers can be reached at 908-859-6749.
They will help you and your family make arrangements for:
- Hospice care; nursing home placement; rehabilitation
- Community financial assistance programs including PAAD, Rent Assistance
and Medicaid
- Counseling, guardianship, advance directives
- Assistance for HIV patients and for the homeless
- Social work for emergency department patients
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Geriatric Service Professionals
The Center for Positive Aging can be reached at
908-859-6722.
If you are age 65 or older, you and your family may contact us for help with:
- Outpatient geriatric assessment
- Adult day health services
- Mental status testing
- Advance directives counseling for those age 65 and older
- Caregiver support group
- Transportation to the hospital, Commerce Center, Balance Center, and
Comfort Zone Adult Day Health Center
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Utilization Review
The appropriateness of admission and the progress of each patient is monitored by the hospital's
Utilization Review process to ensure that unnecessary admissions and prolonged hospital stays
are avoided. Medicare, Medicaid, HMOs, Blue Cross, AETNA and other insurance programs do not pay
for hospitalization of patients who can be treated equally well in alternative health care
settings outside the hospital. If it is determined that you no longer require the full range of
acute care services provided by the hospital, your physician will be notified. We are required
by the state of New Jersey to follow this procedure strictly. We will make every effort to help
you with discharge planning and can assist you in arranging for convalescence in an extended
care facility or at home, assisted by community agencies.
Talk to Your Doctor
You and your doctor know more about your condition and your health needs than anyone else.
Decisions about your medical treatment should be made between you and your doctor. If you have
questions about your medical treatment, your need to continue hospital care, your discharge, or
your need for possible post-hospital care, do not hesitate to ask your doctor. The St. Luke's
Warren Hospital patient visitor or social worker will also help you with your questions and
concerns about available hospital services.
Discharge
Your physician will tell you when you are to be discharged. Please arrange to check out before 11
am. The person who will be taking you home should check in at the nursing station of your unit.
A staff member will escort you to the main entrance.